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Pilot View: CBS' new drama, 'Hawaii Five-O'

June 30, 2010 | 11:00
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Editor’s Note: We offer you our first impressions of the original pilots for fall shows. Keep in mind that these are not reviews, and that the networks may make significant changes to these shows before they air. We reserve the right to love them or hate them more later.

Based on the '70s hit by Leonard Freeman, "Hawaii Five-O" focuses on a new elite task force, created by the governor of Hawaii. Naval officer-turned cop Det. Steve McGarrett returns to Oahu, where he grew up, to investigate his father's murder and stays to head up the task force. Joining him are: Det. Danny "Danno" Williams, an ex-New Jersey cop; Chin Ho Kelley, an ex-Honolulu detective who was wrongly accused of corruption; and Kono, Chin's cousin, who just graduated from the police academy.

Who made it: Peter Lenkov ("CSI: New York") wrote the script, and the "Fringe" and "Alias" producing team of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman is behind it.

Thumbs up: It's a little weird to see Oahu as anything else but "the island," especially with Daniel Dae Kim standing in it, but the pilot shows it off nicely. O'Loughlin and Caan seem to be having a good time together, and any time you have Jean Smart in a scene is a good thing. (She guests as the governor). "Lost" fans will love seeing Kim alive and well and speaking great English.

Thumbs down: Highly color-saturated and contrasted a la "CSI: Miami" and not sure it's necessary. While the murder of McGarrett's father is intriguing, the slave-trafficking story in the episode was not compelling.

Verdict: This could work if the writers can remember that Hawaii is not the exotic locale it was in the '70s and focus on character development.

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